Thomas Lynch 

John Trumbull made this portrait of Thomas Lynch with graphite on paper. The artist uses the medium to capture a likeness, using the inherent qualities of graphite to build up tone. The softness of the material allows for subtle gradations, rendering the delicate features and the play of light on the face, imbuing it with a sense of life. We also see how it captures the sitter's social standing through the rendering of his clothes and powdered wig, which speak to a culture of aristocratic portraiture. The directness of the medium suggests an immediacy, possibly a preparatory sketch for a larger work. This reveals a work that is very economical in its making, indicative of a society where the time and labor of artists was precious. By emphasizing the materiality and techniques involved, we can reflect on the social and economic conditions that shaped its creation.